"It's time, they're prepping me for birth", Heather had sent me through text in the early morning hours. I grabbed my gear and headed to Bethesda North hospital.

When I arrived, her laboring room was empty and nobody was picking up their phone. I panicked, believing I had missed the opportunity to walk with her into her birth space in the operating room. I waited in the waiting room, disappointed with myself for not making it in time. Finally, her husband called me back into the operating waiting area. And while Heather was finishing being prepped for delivery, her husband and I talked and processed what was about to happen. Their twin baby boys were about to be born premature via cesarean.

Heather was ready. The delivery was ready. The NICU team was ready. They called both James and I back, and into the operating room and to Heather's side, we went.